Ed Armbrister, Big Red Machine member and Bahamas Sports Hall of Famer, dies at 72 – The Cincinnati Enquirer

National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Cincinnati Reds great Johnny Bench is among those remembering former teammate Ed Armbrister, who died Wednesday after a battle with diabetes, according to family members. He was 72.

From the Reds via Twitter:

Armbrister, a Bahamian inducted in 2008 into The Bahamas' National Sports Hall of Fame, played for the Reds from 1973 to 1977, hitting .245 in 302 regular-season plate appearances over those five seasons. He successfully executed a controversial bunt in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 3 of the 1975 World Series. Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk argued that Armbrister interfered with his pursuit of the bunt, which moved teammate Cesar Geronimo from first to third base and put Armbrister on second with Fisk's throwing error. Three batters later, Joe Morgan's single to center scored Geronimo, and the Reds won the game, 6-5 - taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

YouTube video of the play:

The Reds would win the '75 World Series 4-3, and a sweep of the New York Yankees the following season made Armbrister and the Big Red Machine two-time World Series champions.

OCTOBER 14, 1975: Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, left, hesitates before throwing to second in a attempt to force out Cincinnati's Cesar Geronimo in the tenth inning. Red Sox manager Darrell Johnson and Fisk argued that Reds batter Ed Armbrister, above, interfered with the catcher during the play. Geronimo eventually scored the winning run as the Reds won 6-5.(Photo: AP Photo)

Armbrister also was part of a blockbuster 1971 trade that brought him, Geronimo, Morgan, Jack Billingham and Denis Menke from the Houston Astros to the Reds for Tommy Helms, Lee May and Jimmy Stewart.

More from thenassauguardian.com's Sheldon Longley:

"On behalf of the Bahamas Baseball Association (BBA) and my family, I wish to offer my sincere condolences to family and friends of Ed Armbrister," said Sam Rodgers, president of the BBA. "I know that he wasn't feeling well but because of COVID and other factors, I didn't get around to see him in his final days and hours. Ed was not only one of our finest baseball players, he was a significant contributor to the development of baseball in the country, particularly in the inner city. His passion was with the inner-city kids and the Community Baseball League. That's where he made his greatest contribution to the development of baseball in The Bahamas. He always wanted to assist. He will be missed by me as a friend and by the baseball community of The Bahamas. I just want to encourage his family and friends to be strong in these trying times."

Former New Providence Amateur Baseball League (NPABL) President Jeff Francis, who played with Armbrister in the New Providence Old Timers Softball Association (NPOTSA), and who was coached by Armbrister in the Nassau Baseball League, said he became close to the former major leaguer in his later years and always enjoyed communicating with him.

"We spoke many times, always talking about baseball and life in general," said a distraught Francis. "He was a good friend. Many times, after games he would ride with me and we would talk about the game and other aspects of baseball. Condolences to his family on behalf of the KC Raiders team, the TCBY Waffle Cones, the Silver Sharks and the baseball community."

The Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau includes a tribute to Armbrister on its Wall of Fame.

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Ed Armbrister, Big Red Machine member and Bahamas Sports Hall of Famer, dies at 72 - The Cincinnati Enquirer